A gunman robbing an El Sereno liquor store Friday accidentally killed an accomplice when the business owner put up a struggle during the holdup, police said.

The man carrying a rifle and an accomplice carrying a knife or machete entered the liquor store in the area of Alhambra and Hollister avenues about 11:15 a.m, said Los Angeles Police Officer Bruce Borihanh.

The pair threatened the store owner and then at some point a struggle ensued.

At that point, the man with the rifle fired the weapon and fatally hit the other man robbing the store, Borihanh said. Police caught and arrested the rifleman.